Friction-clutch



(No Model.) 7 3 Sheets--Sheet 1.

J. H. BLESSING.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

No. 290,517; Patented Dec. 18,1883.

u PiTERS Photo-number, wim mu (No Model.) 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. I

J. H. BLESSING.

FRICTION CLUTCH. No./9190,517. Patented Dec, 18, 1883.

(Nu Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. H. BLESSING. FRICTION CLUTCH. No. 290,517. Patented Dec. 18. 1883.

panying drawings, and to JAMES H. BLESSING, OF ALBANY, NEW? YORK.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

290,517, dated December 1a, 1883.

Application filed October 22. 1883. (No model.)

To @513 1072 0121, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnnns H. BLnssmc, of Albany, county of Albany, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accomthe letters of reference marked thereon.

My invent-ion has relation specially to that class of clutches designed for heavy work, and intended for coupling a revolving shaft and a drum for a chain, rope, or cable in such manner that the two may be made to revolve together, or the drum allowed to remain stationary, or take up a reverse motion while the shaft continues to move. This class of drums is employed for hoisting and lowering, as is well known. In dredging and excavating and in other heavy work these drums are required to be made large and strong; and my improvements are chiefly intended for such heavy work, but may be employed in connection with lighter machinery, if desired.

The object of my invention is to produce a substantial, compact, durable, and effective arrangement of parts for moving the clutching mechanism by means of steam power, which arrangement shall at the same time be simple and easy to construct, not liable to damage or disarrangement of parts, which will afford all the power required to hold the clutch with certainty indepcn dently of the use of any metallic springs, and be easily repaired and kept in order by any engineer. To accomplish all of this my improvements involve certain novel and useful peculiarities of construction, relative arrangements or combinations of parts, and principles of operation, all of which will be herein first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figurelis a partial plan and horizontal section of a machine constructed and arranged for operation in accordance with my improvements. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the spur-wheel and end of the drum. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the steam-cylinder and connections; tion and partial plan, and Fig. section through the valve-chest.

Fig. l, a horizontal sec- 5 a vertical Fig. 6 is a plan or top View, partly in section; and Fig. 7 a side elevation, showing the pipe-connections or run-around between the dash-pots or cushion-cylinders. Fig. 8 represents side and end views of the rock-shaft, which passes through the spur-wheel, and is coupled with the friction-belt. Fig. 9 represents side and face views, or the connecting-arm or couplingrod uniting the two rock-shafts. Fig. 10 represents side aud end views of the rock-shaft applied upon the spur-wheel and connected with the movable collar, which is actuated by the piston-rod. Fig. 11 represents a sectional elevation and end view of the bolt for connecting the rock-shaft with the movable collar. Fig. 12 represents a side and end view of the hinge-bolt. Fig. 13 represents a side and end view of the movable collar, and Fig 14 similar views of the connecting-ring applied thereon. Fig. 15 is a plan or top view, and Fig. 16 a vertical sectional elevation of a clutchoperating mechanism embodying my improvements, showing a single dash-pot or cushioncylinder, the axis of which is arranged in the prolongation of that of the steam-cylinder. Fig. 17" is a cross-section, and Fig. 18 a longitudinal section, of the bridge or union between the cylinder and dash-pot, shown in Figs. 15 and 16. Fig. 19 represents an end elevation and axial section of the packing-sleeve em ployed upon the connecting-rod between the steam-piston and cushion-piston. Fig. 20 is a plan view representing a convenient arrangement of levers to be worked by hand, which arrangement may be employed to move the clutch in the event that it be not desired to use the steam-fittings.

In all these figures like letters of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts.

Ais the central shaft, journaled in any suit able side frames, as B 13, upon which shaft the drum 0 and spur-wheel D are mounted in any of the usual ways. The shaft is revolved by a driven pinion (not shown) meshing into spur-wheel D. When the drum and spurwheel are clutched, the two revolve together, and when unclutched the drum remains stationary, or may be reversed, if required, the shaft continuing its motion. The clutching is effected by a frictioabelt, (representedat E,)

one end of said belt being connected with the spur-wheel, as by the adjustable belt a, and

the other end united with arock-shaft, b, journaled in the spur-wheel, and made to rock by means hereinafter explained. The belt E encircles a flange prepared for it upon the drum, so that when shaft Z) is rocked in one direc tion the belt is tightened, causing the drum to revolve with the spur-wheel, and when rocked in the opposite direction the belt is loosened. The belt is old, and so is the rock-shaft b.

To actuate the rock-shaft b, I employa collar, F, movable back and forth upon shaft A, being connected with a second rock -shaft, a, hinged upon the spur wheel, as by the hinge-bolt (Z. This connection is made by a bolt, 6, having a friction-roller, f, which rides in the elongated slot 0 in the long arm of rockshaft 0. The two rock-shafts are united by a rod, G. From this arrangement itis plain that as collar F is moved upon the shaft A the two rock-shafts are simultaneously moved and the belt E tightened or loosened, according to the direction of the motion.

H is a steam-cylinder, mounted and supported upon the drum-frame, and carrying a piston, H, upon which is a cross-head, H The cross-head is located 011 the side of the cylinder farthest from the frame, so that the cylinder may be situated closer to the frame, thus economizin g space, affording a firmer bearing, and rendering the parts readily accessible. The admission of steam to the cylinder is governed by any form of valve, as at I, the same being intended to be moved by hand-lever, as

at I. The cross-head, which is moved by the piston-rod, is united with the collar F through the medium of rods K K, attached to a ring, L, made to encircle the collar, and located in a groove out therein. The collar must revolve with the shaft, and it is therefore loose or free to revolve in the ring L, which latter only moves back and forth, carrying the collar with it. The ring L is made in two parts, as indicated in Fig. 14. One of the rods K is located above and the other below the horizontal plane through the axis of the cylinderthis in order that they may connect with ring L at points diametrically opposite each other.

To insure a gradual application of power necessary to clutch and unclutch, in order to avoid sudden shock and the consequent strain upon the parts, I employ the dash-pots or cushion-cylinders M M, within which are pistons l M, united with the cross-head by rods M M'.- The cylinders M M are filled with water or other liquid, and both are connected, as by the pipes g 9, having cross-connection h, so that as the pistons move back and forth, the liquid in advance of them must be forced around through the )ipe-connections to the rear of the pistons. The rapidity with which this flow can take place determines the rapidity with which the pistons M can be moved, and,

as M and H are connected as above explained,

it also determines the rapidity with which the clutching and plished.

I provide for regulating the rapidity of flow through 9 and h by any suitable form of valve, as at i, which will enlarge or contract an orifice in the water-way from' to h, and by adjusting this valve properly all danger of sudden jar may be obviated, and yet the apparatus allowed to work as rapidly or as slowly as may be desired. WVhen the valve is once opened the piston H moves under boiler-pressure, and without means of retarding it it would be liable to move too rapidly and to effect the clutching and unclutching too suddenly, with great detriment to the machine. The stuffingboXes for thepiston-rods are so placed as that they are readily accessible, and do not require the apparatus to be dismounted for any ordinary attention which may be required to be. given the various parts. In some situations it may be desirable and convenient to locate a cushion-cylinder in line with the stea1ncylinder, instead of having the two cushion-cylinders above explained. In such case I arrange the apparatus as in Figs. 15 and 16. In this case the cushion and steam-cylinders are united by a bridge, as N, to insure the requisite rigidity and security. The piston-rod of the steam-piston reaches through to-the cushion-piston, and opposite this is the piston-rod united with the cross-head. A channel, 70, in the shell of the cushion-cylinder connects the spaces on opposite sides of the cushion-piston,

and this channel or run-around 7c is provided with a valve, 2', same as in previous form. On the rod between the two pistons I use a single packing-sleeve, as shown at Z, for convenience of adjustment, the same being readily accessible between the bars of the bridge. The notches m in the face of collar F fit over the ribs in on the spur-wheel. The collar and its connections might be moved by hand-power, employing a hand-lever, as 0, Fig. 20, with connections 0 0 or any other arrangement of hand-levers might be used for the purpose, and the hand-lever attachments may be applied to the collar in connection with the steam-operating appliances, so that either method of clutching could be resorted to, according to circumstances.

When constructed and arranged for operation substantially in accordance with the foregoing explanations, the improved device will be found to admirably answer the purpose or object of the invention as previously set forth. The improvements may be applied in connection with heavy or light machinery, and generally to clutch and unclutch shafts, pulleys, and in any situation desired.

I am aware that steam-power has heretofore been employed to move a friction-clutch, and also that water under pressure has been used for similar purposes.

In former power-clutches of which I am unclutching may be accom IIO that it requires no special skill to work it,

nor to repair it or repack it.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. In a friction-clutch, a collar adjustable longitudinally upon the shaft, the same being connected with a rockshaft hinged upon the spur-wheel, a second rock-shaft engaging with the friction-belt, and a rod or bar connecting the two, these parts being combined for operation substantially as shown and described.

In a friction-clutch mechanism, a steam cylinder and piston, arranged, as described, to move the clutch by steam-power, the cylinder being located, as explained, so that the crosshead carrying the connecting bars or rods shall be upon the side farthest from the bed plate or frame, for the purposes and objects named.

3. In a friction-clutch mechanisnnthe steamac-tuated piston, and the cushion piston or pistons located in their respective cylinders, said pistons being united through the medium of a cross-head, and arranged for joint operation substantially in the manner and forthe purposes set forth.

4. In a frictioaelutch mechanism, the combination of the steam-actuated piston, and a cushion-piston connected therewith, the cylinder containing the cushion-piston being provided with a water-way or run-around connecting the spaces upon opposite sides of said piston, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a friction-clutchmechanism provided with a cushion-cylinder and cushion-piston, the combination, with the water-way or runaround connecting the spaces on opposite sides of the cushion-piston, of a valve arranged to regulate the size of said water-way, substantially as shown and described, and for the objects named.

6. In an apparatus of the character herein set forth,wherein the pressure-piston and cushion piston are united for the purposes explained, the steam-cylinder and cushion-cylinder arranged in the same line and connected by an open bridge, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a friction-clutch, the combination of the movable collar mounted upon the shaft, the roclcshaft connected therewith, and the connecting pin or bolt having the roller thereon, substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hahdin the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. BLESSISG.

Vitn esses CHAS. W. BACKUS, J OHN WV. WHEELooK. 

